Compost, rich in plant nutrients, is a readily available fertilizer with beneficial effects on physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of the soils. Moreover compost-based treatments can exert protective effects against plant diseases occurrence and/or stimulate an enhanced plant physiological status with improvements in quantity and quality of crop productions. In this study the effects of three different compost-based cropping managements on the productive response and main quality parameters of watermelon fruits were investigated. Treatments, in comparison with the conventional cultivation method, were: soil amendment with an agricultural waste compost (AWC), a municipal waste compost (MWC) and a foliar treatment with a compost tea blend (CTB). The productive responses and colour parameters related to compost treatments did not show significant differences compared to control ones, which reached a total yield of about 10.22 kg·m-2 with a mean weight of 2.74 kg. AWC caused a higher ascorbic acid content with an increase of 50% than conventional treatment, while fruits obtained by CTB showed higher values in firmness and Quality Index than control samples. The analysis of main sugars highlighted that the application of compost as biofertilizer influenced the ratio among fructose, glucose and sucrose with respect to those observed for control fruits.

Li, T.L. (2000) Relation between the Vascular System and Photosynthate Translocation Pathways in Tomato Plants. Journal of the Japanese Society for Horticultural, 69, 69-75. http://dx.doi.org/10.2503/jjshs.69.69

This paper presents the main findings of the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for the Egyptian national railways restructuring. This paper consists of the two parts: 1) modernizing the signaling system on the Arab El Raml-Alexandria Line and creating a Central Traffic Management Center in Tanta; and 2) renewing 200 km of track in Lower and Upper Egypt. The purpose of this evaluation is to identify and examine the potential socio-cultural, economic, and physical impacts of the railway restructuring, and propose measures to mitigate its adverse impacts, and develop plans for managing and monitoring the environmental aspects of the railway restructuring. This paper describes outlines of the environmental and social sensitivities of the railway restructuring area, potentially significant impacts of the proposed project and plans for their mitigation. Detailed information on the environmental and socio economic settings of the railway restructuring, components and activities of the proposed project and the results of the environmental and social impact assessment studies are presented in the body of the paper.

The purpose of this study was to determine the Bachelor Science of Nursing (BSN), student’s perceptions of the quality of nursing courses taught at Palestine College of Nursing (PCN), which were fundamentals of nursing course, adult nursing course, pediatric nursing course, maternity nursing course, community nursing course, mental health and psychiatric nursing course and nursing management and leadership course, and its relationship with their academic achievement. The Palestine College of Nursing is governmental and Ministry of Health (MOH) affiliated. The sample included 467 nursing students registered in the college who studied the previously mentioned nursing courses. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire developed by the researcher, and guided by literature. That was to assess the included nine quality dimensions of the nursing courses as perceived by the students. Content validity and reliability tests were done for the tool. The study revealed that the total students’ perceptions of the quality of all nurses courses were within average quality level (80.42%). The nursing management course and community health nursing course were of the first two ranks of high quality level (84.54%, and 84.48%, respectively), where mental health and psychiatric nursing course, fundamentals of nursing course, adult health nursing course, pediatric nursing course and maternity health nursing course were the next ranks of average quality level. The study revealed that students’ perceptions of seven dimensions from nine were with average quality level (80.50%). The first rank was the “teacher/instructor characteristics and attributes”, dimension of high quality level (84.44%), while the last rank was “teaching methodology” dimension of average quality level (77.54%). There was a positive relationship between students’ achievement and the courses’ quality dimensions, pertaining objectives of the course, contents of the course, teacher/instructor competencies, teacher characteristics, teaching methodology, students/teacher interaction and course evaluation. The study recommended improving the quality of nursing courses for better level and to improve the quality of some dimensions like using different teaching strategies, the quality of clinical settings, and improve the quality of nursing instructors in some clinical areas. Finally the researcher recommend for further studies about concerning quality in nursing education.

Awad, Y. (2015) Quality of Nursing Courses as Perceived by Students: Relationship with Their Academic Achievement in Palestine College of Nursing. Open Journal of Nursing, 5, 36-48. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2015.51005.

Kolota, E. and Osinska, M. (1999) Efficiency of Foliar Nutrition of Field Vegetables Grown at Different Nitrogen Rates. Proceedings of the International Conference on Environmental Problems Associated with Nitrogen Fertilization of Field Grown Vegetable Crops, Potsdam, 30 August-1 September 1999, 87-91. eww150116lx

Utilization of potato processing residues to produce a low caloric cupcake in present study was targeted. The functional properties of wheat flour (WF 72%) and dried potato peel varieties [Hermus (PPH) and Russet (PPR)] were carried out. Consequently, WF was partially substituted by both potato peels (PP) at 5% – 20% to prepare mixtures for cupcake making. Approximate chemical composition and physical characteristics were determined. Rheological parameters of prepared formulas were assayed using Mixolab. Moreover, total phenolic compounds (TPC) and relative antioxidant activity (AOA) were evaluated. Quality parameters such as thiobarbituric acid (TBA), staling and microbiological attributes during storage were determined. In addition, a sensory evaluation of different substituted cupcake was performed as well. Results indicated that PPR had the highest water absorption capacity (WAC), oil absorption capacity (OAC) and swelling capacity (SC) followed by PPH then WF flours. Indeed, substituted WF with both PP at 5% and 10% didn’t influence the thermo-mechanical properties including dough time development, stability, viscosity, gluten and starch characteristics drastically. Likewise, this substitution levels didn’t affect the organoleptic properties which were confirmed by panelists, cupcake external and cross sections. Substituted WF by 5% – 10% PP recorded sensory scores aftermost WF. Mildly, WF cupcake was higher in protein and fat contents than WF-PP cupcakes while lower in crude fiber. The WF-PP cupcakes at different substituted levels recorded lower energy value than WF cupcakes. Arguably, increasing both PP levels increased the TPC and AOA especially for WF-PPR cupcakes. Afterwards, WF-PPR 15% and 20% recorded the highest TPC and AOA contents to be 2.32 mg GAE g-1 dw and 3.44 μmol TE g-1 dw, respectively. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was found between WF-PP at 5% and WF cupcakes in physical and staling properties. WF-PPR cupcakes at different concentrations were lower TBA than WF cupcakes and mostly stable during storage period. It was revealed that substitution levels of 5% and 10% with PPH and PPR produced acceptable cupcakes which did not significantly differ from WF cupcakes.

To explore the influence of water stress on fruit quality and gene expression related to citrate metabolism of ponkan. The test were conducted from May 15 to December 24 in 2013 using six-year-old ponkan (C. blanco cv. Ponkan) trees with 40% soil water conditions by taken regular watering as control. The content of acids in fruit were determined by HPLC, and relative expression of related genes of citric acid metabolic were determined by relative fluorescence quantitative PCR. The results showed that the content of citric acid, malic acid, quinic acid and total organic acids per gram sarcocarp were extremely increased by 285.2%, 320%, 480% and 299.1%, and the content of per-fruit organic acid were 77.39%, 89.64%, 117.24% and 75.9% respectively compared to those control in the fruit mature stage. Relative expression of CitCS1, CitCS2 were higher than control, andrelative expressionof CitAco1, CitAco2, CitAco3 had a certain increase in the late fruit development, were lower in mature stage. Three relative expression of CitIDH gene were higher than control in mature stage. Low CitGAD4 relative expression and undetectable in mature stage, the relative expression of CitGAD5 gene had a role in promoting under water stress. Furthermore, the relative expression of CitCS1, CitCS2, CitACO1, CitACO3, CitIDH1, CitIDH2, CitIDH3, CitGAD4 and CitGAD5 were influenced by water stress through the correlation analysis. Water stress caused the accumulation of citric acid, declined fruit quality, leaded to change of the genetic rela- tive expression about citric acid synthesis and degradation. The down-regulation of CitACO1, CitGAD4and up-regulation of CitCS1, CitCS2 might be one of the reasons that promoted to the accumulation of citric acid.

Kubo, T., Kihara, T. and Hirabayashi, T. (2002) The Effects of Spraying Lead Arsenate on Citrate Accumulation and the Related Enzyme Activities in the Juice Sacs of Citrus natsudaidai. Journal of the Japanese Society for Horticultural Science, 71, 305-310. http://dx.doi.org/10.2503/jjshs.71.305

Objective: To assess patient satisfaction with services provided in inpatient health care settings in Lebanon. Methods: Our cross-sectional study enrolled patients who spent a minimum of one night in any ward at accredited hospitals in various regions of Lebanon. A structured questionnaire covering multiple domains was utilized to assess patient satisfaction as well as capture demographic data and visit characteristics. Results: From the pool of 1300 patients given questionnaires, a high response rate (92.8%; 1206) was achieved. Most (60.4%) respondents had the second class medical insurance coverage; only 99 (8.2%) had a first class coverage. Patient satisfaction was influenced by age, educational level, and medical insurance coverage class. Most respondents were pleased with overall nursing care (96.6%), and physician consultations (95.4%), P = 0.001. Conclusions: Patient satisfaction with hospital care is significantly influenced by patient’s provider interactions during the episodes of care. Furthermore, the surrounding physical environment also has an influence on patient satisfaction. Also, our results showed the acceptable level of satisfaction about the healthcare system delivered in Lebanon. This could be enhanced if appropriate management decisions will be implemented to overcome weakness and barriers.